The Brief Claims’ chief executive, Paul Hampson spoke with Business Manchester about the impact of romance scams.
Alice, an 83-year-old based in Oldham, sent over £20,000 to romance scammers.
After meeting on an online scrabble game, Alice developed an intense relationship with the scammer and believed that she was in love.
The fraudster claimed to be a millionaire from the United States. The pair bonded over shared interests and the fact that they were both widowed parents.
As their relationship progressed, the scammer began to request cash from Alice. He first claimed that his daughter needed emergency surgery and did not have access to his card, therefore pressuring Alice to transfer money over to him.
The scammer then told Alice that he was going on a business trip to Russia and had been arrested in Istanbul and needed money to pay for his bail. Believing that the person that she was speaking to was genuine, Alice sent the cash over.
Alice was also asked to buy Google Play cards or Amazon cards – a common tactic employed by scammers so that they can sell the cards and take an 80% cut.
If you have been encouraged to make a bank transfer to someone you’ve only met online, then you might have been targeted by a romance scammer. Call us on 0808 273 0900 or complete an online form for assistance.
Over a period of 18 months, Alice sent over £20,000 to the fraudster. Her brother, David, says that the amount would have been much higher if he and his wife did not intervene.
Commenting on the devastating romance scam, The Brief Claims’ chief executive, Paul Hampson, said:
“It’s not just the money that makes romance fraud so distressing. It’s the feeling of betrayal and the emotional cost, too.
“Criminals target victims who are vulnerable, gain their trust and exploit them. We would advise everybody to stop and think before they send money to someone they haven’t met.
“Social media and other online platforms should be doing more to protect victims from fake accounts, but for now, we encourage people to be vigilant.”
